RoadVitals

2001 GMC Yukon Xl Denali

Recalls, owner-reported complaints, investigations and safety data

Data refreshed

Owner complaintsComplaints are reports submitted to NHTSA by owners and drivers. NHTSA does not verify most reports before publishing them, and a complaint does not establish that a defect exists. Volume is influenced by how many of a vehicle were sold, how long it has been on the road, and how much attention an issue has received.
22
Latest Dec 3, 2017
Safety recallsA safety recall is issued when a manufacturer or NHTSA determines that a vehicle has a safety-related defect or does not comply with a federal motor vehicle safety standard. Recall repairs are free. Whether a specific vehicle is covered depends on its VIN — a recall listed for a model year does not necessarily apply to every vehicle of that year.
1
Latest Mar 17, 2001
InvestigationsNHTSA opens an investigation to examine whether a safety defect may exist. An open investigation is not a determination that a defect exists, and many investigations close without a recall. Investigations can, however, lead to one.
3
Crash or fire reportedComplaints whose submitter recorded that a crash or a fire occurred. These are the reporter's own answers on the NHTSA form, not verified findings.
4
3 injuries, 0 deaths reported

Overview

Our database contains 22 NHTSA owner-reported complaints for the 2001 GMC Yukon Xl Denali, most frequently naming the brakes, engine and tires & wheels categories. 1 safety recall has been issued covering this model year; 3 NHTSA investigations name it; and 84 manufacturer communications are on file.

Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.

What owners report

Complaints grouped by the component NHTSA recorded

  • Brakes1241.4%
  • Engine413.8%
  • Tires & wheels310.3%
  • Steering310.3%
  • Powertrain (other)26.9%
  • Electrical13.4%
  • Heating & air conditioning13.4%
  • Seat belts13.4%

Percentages are of component mentions. A single complaint can name more than one component, so these do not sum to the total complaint count.

Safety recalls

1 campaign cover this model year

Recalls apply to specific vehicles, not to every vehicle of a model year. Check your VIN with NHTSA or your manufacturer's dealer to confirm whether a recall affects your vehicle.

Check a VIN on NHTSA.gov

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:12V/24V/48V BATTERY:CABLES

Mar 17, 2001
301 units potentially affected
The defect: VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES. SOME OF THESE VEHICLES WERE BUILT WITH A MISROUTED POSITIVE BATTERY CABLE ASSEMBLY THAT COULD COME IN CONTACT WITH THE STEERING SHAFT UNIVERSAL JOINT.
The risk: OVER TIME THIS CONTACT COULD CAUSE A WEAR-THROUGH OF THE CABLE ASSEMBLY CONVOLUTED CONDUIT AND CABLE INSULATION EXPOSING THE WIRE CORE AND RESULTING IN INTERMITTENT ELECTRICAL SHORTING. THIS COULD RESULT IN ERRATIC MOVEMENT OF THE VOLTAGE GAGE, TOTAL BATTERY DISCHARGE IN A FEW HOURS, OR THE CABLE INSULATION AND CONDUCT COULD IGNITE IF ENOUGH CURRENT IS DISCHARGED AT THE POINT OF CONTACT, RESULTING IN AN UNDERHOOD FIRE.
The remedy: DEALERS WILL INSPECT THE POSITIVE BATTERY CABLE FOR PROPER ROUTING AND RE-ROUTE THE CABLE IN NECESSARY. THE CABLE WILL ALSO BE INSPECTED FOR WEAR OF THE CONDUIT AND CABLE INSULATION, AND WILL BE REPLACED IF NECESSARY. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN APRIL 23, 2001. OWNERS WHO TAKE THEIR VEHICLES TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER ON AN AGREED UPON SERVICE DATE AND DO NOT RECEIVE THE FREE REMEDY WITHIN A REASONABLE TIME SHOULD CONTACT GMC AT 1-800-462-8782.
GENERAL MOTORS CORP.Manufacturer number 01001View on NHTSA.gov

Safety investigations

NHTSA inquiries naming this vehicle. An investigation is not a finding of a defect.

DP05009ClosedDefect Petition

PARKING BRAKE FAILURE

Opened Dec 20, 2005
Closed May 31, 2006

ODI'S REVIEW OF COMPLAINT DATA RECEIVED SINCE THE CLOSE OF EA04-011 REVEALED NO INDICATION THAT THE INVESTIGATION SHOULD BE RE-OPENED.MORE DETAILS CAN BE FOUND IN THE FEDERAL REGISTER NOTICE ENCLOSED IN THE DP05-009 PUBLIC FILE.ODI RESERVES THE RIGHT TO REOPEN THE INVESTIGATION IN THE FUTURE SHOULD CONDITIONS WARRANT.

PARKING BRAKE:CONVENTIONAL
PE05020ClosedPreliminary Evaluation

UNWANTED LOW-SPEED ABS ACTIVATION

Opened Apr 28, 2005
Closed Sep 13, 2005

IN A LETTER DATED AUGUST 29, 2005, GM NOTIFIED ODI THAT IT WAS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 1999 THROUGH 2002 C/K PICKUP TRUCKS AND SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES TO CORRECT A PROBLEM WITH ANTI-LOCK BRAKE SYSTEM (ABS) WHEEL SPEED SENSOR CORROSION THAT MAY RESULT IN UNWANTED ABS ACTIVATION AND EXTENDED STOPPING DISTANCES DURING LOW-SPEED BRAKING (RECALL 05V-379).GM'S RECALL COVERS APPROXIMATELY 804,000 VEHICLES CURRENTLY REGISTERED IN THE FOLLOWING 14 SALT-BELT STATES:CONNECTICUT, ILLINOIS, INDIANA, MASSACHUSETTS, MAINE, MICHIGAN, NEW HAMPSHIRE, NEW JERSEY, NEW YORK, OHIO, PENNSYLVANIA, RHODE ISLAND, VERMONT, AND WEST VIRGINIA.THE RECALL PROCEDURE WILL INVOLVE REMOVING THE SENSOR, CLEANING THE MOUNTING SURFACE, APPLYING A RUST INHIBITOR (ZINC-X) TO THE SURFACE, AND REINSTALLING THE SENSOR.IF NECESSARY, THE SENSOR WILL BE REPLACED. THE POPULATION AND FAILURE REPORT DATA GIVEN IN THIS RESUME ARE FOR THE FULL REGION THAT HAS BEEN CONSIDERED BY ODI AS THE SALT-BELT.THAT INCLUDES DELAWARE, IOWA, MARYLAND, MINNESOTA, MISSOURI, WISCONSIN AND THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA IN ADDITION TO THE 14 STATES INCLUDED IN 05V-379.THE STATES COVERED BY GM'S RECALL HAVE THE HIGHEST INCIDENT RATES FOR THE SUBJECT CONDITION, ACCOUNTING FOR 91% OF THE INCIDENTS, BUT ONLY 24% OF SUBJECT VEHICLE SALES IN THE UNITED STATES.ODI'S ANALYSIS DETERMINED THAT 840 OF THE COMPLAINTS, 244 OF THE CRASHES, AND 16 OF THE INJURIES IDENTIFIED IN THIS INVESTIGATION OCCURRED IN THOSE STATES.THE RESULTING INCIDENT AND CRASH RATES ARE 96.2 AND 28.0 PER 100,000 VEHICLES RESPECTIVELY (NOTE:RATES ARE BASED ON VEHICLE SALES, NOT REGISTERED VEHICLES). THE CORRESPONDING NUMBERS IN THE EXCLUDED PORTIONS OF THE SALT-BELT ARE 399,000 VEHICLES, 81 INCIDENTS (20.3 PER 100,000 VEHICLES), 3 CRASHES, AND NO INJURIES.THE STATISTICS IN THE REMAINING 30 STATES ARE 2,406,000 VEHICLES, 168 INCIDENTS (7.0 PER 100,000 VEHICLES), 31 CRASHES, AND ONE INJURY.GM AND ODI ARE CONTINUING TO MONITOR THE PROBLEM EXPERIENCE IN STATES THAT ARE NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL.GM WILL PROVIDE ODI WITH UPDATED COMPLAINT, FIELD REPORT, AND WARRANTY DATA IN NOVEMBER 2005.ODI AND GM WILL REVIEW THAT DATA AND ASSESS THE APPROPRIATENESS OF THE CURRENT SCOPE OF THE RECALL AT THAT TIME.

SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP:CONTROL UNIT/MODULELed to recall 05V379000
PE02067ClosedPreliminary Evaluation

ALLEGED FAILURE OF 2ND ROW SEATBELT ALR

Opened Sep 25, 2002
Closed Feb 11, 2003

THE AUTOMATIC LOCKING RETRACTOR (ALR) IS A FEATURE INCORPORATED IN THE SUBJECT VEHICLE FOR LOCKING THE WEBBING TO PROPERLY SECURE A CHILD SAFETY SEAT INTO A VEHICLE.THIS PE WAS OPENED BASED ON A GM TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN STATING THAT WITH CERTAIN CHILD SAFETY SEATS THE WEBBING MAY NOT REMAIN LOCKED.THERE ARE NO COMPLAINTS IN THE ODI DATABASE AND ONLY TWO COMPLAINTS TO GM.GM'S INSTRUCTIONS STATE FOR THE FINAL STEP IN USING THE WEBBING LOCK FEATURE TO PUSH AND PULL THE CHILD RESTRAINT TO BE SURE IT IS SECURE. IF THE ALR IS NOT LOCKED, THE USER WOULD BE FULLY AWARE OF THIS CONDITION PRIOR TO COMPLETING PROPER INSTALLATION OF THE CHILD SAFETY SEAT IN THIS VEHICLE.THIS INVESTIGATION DID NOT UNCOVER ANY COMPLAINTS OF THE ALR INADVERTENTLY UNLOCKING WHILE THE VEHICLE IS IN MOTION.THE EMERGENCY LOCKING RETRACTOR (ELR) FEATURE REMAINS AVAILABLE TO LOCK THE RETRACTOR IN A CRASH.A SAFETY-RELATED DEFECT HAS NOT BEEN IDENTIFIED AT THIS TIME AND FURTHER USE OF AGENCY RESOURCES DOES NOT APPEAR TO BE WARRANTED.ACCORDINGLY, THIS INVESTIGATION IS CLOSED.THE CLOSING OF THIS INVESTIGATION DOES NOT CONSTITUTE A FINDING BY NHTSA THAT NO SAFETY-RELATED DEFECT EXISTS.THE AGENCY RESERVES THE RIGHT TO TAKE FURTHER ACTION IF WARRANTED BY THE CIRCUMSTANCES.SEE ATTACHED SUMMARY FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION.

SEAT BELTS

Recent owner complaints

Reports submitted to NHTSA, shown in the owner's own words

Brakes
Filed Dec 3, 2017

THE MOTOR ON THE ANTILOCK BRAKES WOULD NOT SHUT OFF WHEN DENALI WHEN THE ENGINE WAS NOT RUNNING. I HAD TO DISCONNECT BATTERY FOR IT TO STOP RUNNING

NHTSA ID
11052101
Incident
Feb 2, 2017
Mileage
3 mi
Powertrain (other)
Filed Oct 17, 2017

VEHICLE ROLLS WHILE IN PARK. HAD PARKING PAWL REPLACED, PROBLEM PERSISTED. PROBLEM IS MORE OBVIOUS THE GREATER THE INCLINE. VEHICLE IS NOT FREEWHEELING BUT HAS SOME RESISTANCE.

NHTSA ID
11034147
Incident
Oct 4, 2013
Mileage
150,000 mi
Powertrain (other)
Filed May 2, 2016

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 GMC YUKON XL DENALI. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 15 MPH, THERE WAS A GRINDING NOISE EMERGING FROM THE FRONT END DIFFERENTIAL OF THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER AND THE DIAGNOSIS WAS THAT THE FRONT DIFFERENTIAL FAILED, BUT THE DEALER WOULD NOT REPAIR THE VEHICLE AND INFORMED THAT THE VEHICLE NEEDED TO BE INSPECTED BY A TRANSMISSION SPECIALIST. THE FAILURE REOCCURRED ON THREE OCCASIONS. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 200,000. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE.

NHTSA ID
10862463
Incident
Apr 21, 2016
Mileage
200,000 mi
Brakes
Filed Jan 18, 2015

(RECALL 05V-379) ABS LIGHT HAS BEEN COMING ON INTERMITTENTLY FOR ABOUT 4 YEARS NOW. WE HAVE TAKEN TO NUMEROUS MECHANICS TO NO AVAIL. NOW AFTER LOOKING INTO RECALLS, I FIND THAT THERE ACTUALLY WAS A SOLUTION, BUT WE WERE NEVER NOTIFIED BECAUSE WE DON'T LIVE IN THE CORRECT AREA OF THE COUNTRY. BUT WE DO LIVE CLOSE TO THE AFFECTED AREA. I PURCHASED THE CAR USED ONLY 3 YEARS AFTER IT WAS MADE. THIS VEHICLE COULD HAVE BEEN IN THE AFFECTED AREA PRIOR TO OUR PURCHASE. WE WOULD LIKE TO BE INCLUDED IN THE RECALL. MY TEENAGE DAUGHTER DROVE THIS VEHICLE TO SCHOOL AND DROPPED OFF OUR 8 YEAR OLD TO SCHOOL FOR TWO YEARS. THIS RECALL SHOULD HAVE BEEN EXPANDED SO THAT I WAS AWARE OF IT TO KEEP MY FAMILY SAFE. *TR

NHTSA ID
10676303
Incident
May 7, 2012
Mileage
200,000 mi
Brakes
Filed Aug 18, 2014

WE WERE TRAVELING NORTH UP THE SAW MILL PARKWAY FROM BRONX NY. THIS PARKWAY IS TWO LANES WITH 3-4 LIGHTS DEPENDING WHERE YOU GET ON, SO I HAD 3 LIGHTS GOING NORTH. AT THE FIRST LIGHT I NOTICE THE BRAKES WERE WEEK. SECOND LIGHT HAD THE SAME NO PRESSURE BRAKE PEDDLE, AND THEN THE THIRD LIGHT I HAD NO PRESSURE ON THE BRAKE PEDDLE COULDN'T STOP AT THE RED LIGHT AND HAD SEEN THE CARS COMING FROM THE LEFT INTO THE INTERSECTION SO THAT MADE ME SWERVE HARD TO THE RIGHT AND FINALLY CAME TO A STOP. THE RIGHT FRONT BRAKE LINE BLEW AND FLUID WAS LEAKING ALL OVER. I HAD BOTH OF MY DAUGHTERS, BROTHER IN-LAW, AND A FRIENDS SON IN THE TRUCK GOING TO A FAMILY PARTY IN CONNECTICUT AROUND 12PM.I HAD A COUPLE THINGS GOING FOR ME OTHER THAN BEING LUCKY, A GOOD DRIVER AND KNOWING THE HIGHWAY VERY WELL. I MADE IT TO THE MECHANIC SHOP AND SAW THAT ALL MY BRAKE LINES ARE RUSTED UP THAT THE MECHANIC DIDN'T WANT TO TOUCH THE OTHERS CAUSE THEY MIGHT BE VERY BRITTLE AND WILL BREAK VERY EASY. THIS TRUCK IS NOT MY MAIN VEHICLE AND IS IN VERY GOOD SHAPE TILL I LOOKED UNDERNEATH. *TR

NHTSA ID
10626207
Incident
Jun 7, 2014
Mileage
140,000 mi
Brakes
Filed Jul 22, 2014

COMING TO A STOP SIGN THE BRAKE LINE BLEW OUT ON THE LEFT REAR RESULTING IN THE TRUCK NOT STOPPING AND ROLLING THROUGH A STOP SIGN. HAD THERE BEEN A CHILD ON A BIKE, A PERSON WALKING OR ANOTHER VEHICLE COMING THERE WOULD HAVE BEEN AN ACCIDENT. UPON INSPECTION BY A MECHANIC INFORMED ME THAT ALL MY BRAKE LINES ARE RUSTED OUT AND NEED TO BE CHANGED. IM STILL WAITING FOR A QUOTE BUT ITS SAID TO BE OVER $1500! GM SHOULD BE ACCOUNTABLE AND THESE TRUCKS SHOULD BE RECALLED! *TR

NHTSA ID
10615434
Incident
Jul 22, 2014
Mileage
128,000 mi
Brakes
Filed Dec 3, 2013

WHILE DRIVING MY 2001 DENALI XL MY BRAKES FAILED AND WAS FORTUNATE THAT I WAS NOT IN TRAFFIC. ONCE I CREPT HOME I WAS ABLE TO SEE THE UNDER CARRIAGE AND THERE WERE LARGE AMOUNT OF CORROSION ON ALL THE EQUIPMENT. CAR IS STILL LAID UP UNTIL I CAN AFFORD REPAIRED. *TR

NHTSA ID
10554627
Incident
Oct 7, 2013
Mileage
112,210 mi
Electrical
Filed Aug 27, 2013
Fire reported

I WAS DRIVING DOWN A HIGHWAY AT 65 MPH WHEN I BEGAN TO SMELL SMOKE. AT FIRST I THOUGHT THAT IT WAS JUST OIL SPILLED ON EXHAUST SYSTEM. THEN THE SMOKE GOT WORSE AND HAD A TERRIBLE ODOR. I LOOKED DOWN AT THE CENTER CONSOLE AND SMOKE WAS COMING OUT FROM AROUND THE EDGES AND THE ASH TRAY AREA. I STARTED LOOKING FOR A PULLOFF AS I WAS ON A COUNTRY ROAD. AS I FOUND ONE FIRE STARTED COMING UP THROUGH THE GAPS. MY FIRST THOUGHT WAS THAT I HAD A FIRE THAT WAS GOING TO DESTROY THE VEHICLE. SO, ONCE I WAS STOPPED I LOOKED FOR MY FIRE EXTINGUISHER BUT COULDN'T FIND IT AND THEN I REMEMBERED THAT I HAD BOTTLED WATER IN THE VEHICLE. I GRABBED 4 OF THEM AND WENT BACK TO THE DRIVERS SIDE AND BEGAN TO POUR WATER DOWN THROUGH THE OPENING IN THE CONSOLE THAT HAD BEEN CAUSED BY THE FIRE MELTING IT. THE FIRE WAS PUT OUT QUICKLY. I THEN PUT ON GLOVES AND REMOVED THE TOP PART OF THE CONSOLE THAT HAD BEEN MOSTLY DESTROYED BY THE FIRE. IN LOOKING INTO THE BOTTOM IT APPEARS THAT SMALL BITS OF PAPER, RECEIPTS, ETC. HAD FALLEN DOWN ONTO THE WIRING HARNESS BELOW. MY GUESS IS THAT SINCE I HAD PLUGGED MY XM RADIO INTO THE CIGARETTE LIGHTER IT HAD HEATED UP THE WIRES WHICH HAD HEATED UP THE PAPERS UNTIL THEY BEGAN TO BURN. I CONSIDER THIS A FLAW IN THE DESIGN OF THE CONSOLE, THE CAUSE BEING THE CRACKS IN THE CONSOLE/ASH TRAY WHICH WOULD ALLOW PAPER OBJECTS TO FALL ONTO THE WIRING HARNESS BELOW AND CAUSE A FIRE. THE FIRE MELTED ABOUT SIX INCHES OF INSULATION OFF THE WIRING HARNESS AND THE WIRES TOUCHING EACH OTHER RESULTED IN FUSES BEING BLOWN. THE VEHICLE IS STILL DRIVABLE BUT AS OF THIS WRITING DOES NOT HAVE OVERHEAD LIGHTS AND DASHBOARD LIGHTING AVAILABLE & THEIR IS AN INTERMITTENT IGNITION ISSUE. I HAVEN'T BEEN ABLE TO FIND A REPLACEMENT WIRING HARNESS BUT SUSPECT THAT WHEN I DO IT WILL COST AN ARM AND A LEG. I AM TRYING TO REPAIR THE WIRING BY REINSULATING EACH WIRE AND THEN RE-BUNDLING THEM. *TR

NHTSA ID
10537466
Incident
Aug 24, 2013
Mileage
164,486 mi

Manufacturer communications

A bulletin sent by a manufacturer to its dealers. Not a recall, and repairs are not necessarily free.

PIP5601C

This PI communicates the requirement to provide a pico file to receive diagnostic assistance from TAC.

03-06-01-023I

ENGINE

This service bulletin explains how to measure for oil consumption and possible reasons for loss of oil.

03-06-01-023H

ENGINE

This service bulletin explains how to measure for oil consumption and possible reasons for loss of oil.

General Communication

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

Vehicle Wide Programming (VWP) is a new process to update software on GM Vehicles. It provides the ability via a single selection within Techline Connect to first identify which modules need updating and then proceed to updating affected modules (with some exceptions). The updating of modules is completed in parallel instead of the technician needing to update one module at a time. This allows a more streamlined approach for dealers and customers.

24-NA-141

POWER TRAIN

GM is receiving damaged (cracked or broken) transmission cores returned to the reman facilities. The damage is being caused either in the removal process by the technician, or inadequate packaging or shipping. This bulletin advises the dealers to be more careful not to damage the transmissions during removal and to package the core properly for return.

16-NA-383

ENGINE; FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM

This service bulletin advises of a new fuel injection cleaner kit used for decarbonizing the intake valves to correct conditions of rough idle, Crank no start, extended crank or misfire, MIL with DTCs, and explains how Top Tier fuels should be used to reduce carbon build-up.

Manufacturers file copies of the bulletins they send to dealers with NHTSA. These often describe diagnostic or repair procedures for a known condition. They are not recalls: repairs described in a bulletin are usually only free if the vehicle is still under warranty or the manufacturer has extended coverage.

Compare model years

Complaint and recall counts across every year of this model

GMC Yukon Xl Denali by model year
YearComplaintsRecallsInvestigationsIssue Index
2003320239.5
2002260236.6
2001Viewing221353.1

Higher-selling and older vehicles accumulate more reports. Counts are not failure rates and are not directly comparable between vehicles that sold in very different numbers. Older model years have had longer for reports to accumulate.